Lake Weed Help Desk - Articles - Zimbio

No Weeds, No Muck, No Chemicals, No Labor - NO KIDDING! The WeedRoller automates the process without potentially dangerous chemicals.

Sat, 24 Feb 2008 22:55:34 GMT

posted by brucew

How Do You Firm Up A Mucky Lake Bottom? The WeedRoller Automates The Process By Removing Lake Weeds and Muck

Written by brucew on Feb-2-08 11:45pm

Using The WeedRoller to improve your waterfront. Lake weeds and a soft bottom have always hindered the ability to enjoying a beachfront suitable for swimming and fun. Using a method that will continually agitate the lake bottom can dramatically reduce or remove lake muck. Rakes and lake weed cutters are effective but time consuming. The Weeders Digest has teamed with the Crary WeedRoller to offer a machine that will reduce muck, silt and aquatic weeds while dramatically reducing the effort to improve any shoreline.

Minnetonka, MN January 17, 2007 -- The Weeders Digest Help Desk has added another innovative tool to benefit lakeshore owners called the WeedRoller which uses a sweeping arm to remove aquatic vegetation and weeds, muck and silt in front of a dock or pier to clear a swimming area or beach.

The WeedRoller uses a breakthrough pivot design that slowly rolls along the lake bottom, while detaching weeds from the soil and agitating the lake bed. The aquatic weeds can then be quickly and easily gathered with a lake rake and disposed of. Once the initial clean up is complete, it requires only occasional use to keep it weed free. The result is a cleaner, firm, natural lake bottom, ideal for swimming and water activities. The WeedRoller easily mounts to a dock in minutes, is environmentally safe, and requires about the same power it takes to operate a household light bulb.

For many, the WeedRoller offers a more environmentally friendly solution than damaging herbicides and chemicals which are also costly and oftentimes ineffective if improperly applied. Herbicides typically require a permit, but lakeshore owners often take the chemical application process into their own hands rather than complying with state and local regulations. Applying herbicides requires more knowledge than most homeowners posses. Irresponsible use could negatively impact the environment. This process should be left to a professional applicator rather than the homeowner.

A permit may also be required for operation of the Weed Roller depending upon the state where it is installed. Contact your state for specific regulations. Permit information can also be obtained at www.WeedersDigest.com .

In addition to the WeedRoller, The Weeders Digest continues to offer a wealth of tools, tips and education for lakeshore management. Other shoreline solutions include lake rakes and water weed cutters such as the Beach Buddy, Beach Groomer, WeedRazer, Aqua-Tiller, Aquatic Vegetation Groomer, Arrow Tooth, Lake Bottom Blanket, AWE, Aqua Blaster, Scott Aerator, Kasco Fountains and Midwest Rakes.

The Weeders Digest's addition of the WeedRoller will be supported by information found at Weeders Digest.com and through the phone support when calling The Help Desk at 763-551-1441.

How to Control Lake, Pond and Lagoon Algae

Fri, 1 Mar 2008 15:26:24 GMT

posted by jerry55
Algae growth in ponds, lakes or lagoons is not only unsightly, it usually carries unruly odors and left untreated, will create disturbances in the waters natural ecosystem. These helpful guidelines will help you take back control of your water without harsh chemicals or toxins so readily available and promoted with disregard of their long term effects.

What’s the Fix? Eliminated Algae can be a daunting task – one that entails chemical, mechanical or biological treatment, all aimed at the same end result. Chemical treatments can be effective but do have disadvantages since most all of these types of treatments are in some way classified as light to heavy carcinogens or other plague like disease or symptom, none of which anyone wants anything to do with. Mechanical removal is tedious and the upkeep is more than most are ready to commit to due to the time consuming, never-ending work involved. Biological treatments are the safest eco-friendly approaches when dealing with nuisance weeds and have been the premier choice of method among professional, state and park managers.

Bacterial treatments are simply a super condensed version of the bacterial strains found in a pristine water body and their ability to force clarity through phosphate and nitrate reduction have made them the most popular and earth friendly approach to lake restoration and remediation. Bacteria introduced into the system quickly multiply and begin a never ending cycle of digesting the heavy sludge layers found in all lake, pond and lagoon beds. These beds are a breading ground for nutrients that supply the algae with fuel to grow. As leaves, sticks, feces, waste and even garbage enter the water, natural decay forces the release of nutrients and phosphates which promote algae growth and other problem weeds while a constant rise in phosphate depletes the waters air supply rendering it “dead water” that is not suitable for people, pets or healthy fish stock.Sunlight is another fuel for algae and plenty of sunlight equates to plenty of algae.

Modern bioremediation techniques include bacterial treatments running concurrently with water dye’s designed to block out light in order to inhibit the growth of algae while supporting the bacterial degradation and nutrient depletion effects of bacterial additives. Many companies offer “blue” and “black” dyes containing mostly blue dye while more advance formulas are adding yellow based dyes to their blend which effectively block a broader spectrum of sunlight, resulting in enhanced blocking capability such as those found at http://www.newtechbio.com/algae and at lakedyelabs.com among others.

Tips Keep leaves, grass cuttings, garbage and raw sewage out of the water. Remove branches immediately and if you septic system is not functioning properly, have it inspected and repaired so as to prevent the overflow of raw sewage from entering the lake. Animal feces and air-born leaves are not detrimental provided they are not accompanied by unnatural amounts raked up and dumped into the water.Avoid chemicals at all costs. It is virtually a guarantee that we all will develop some type of cancer at some point, from prostate to breast cancer.

The epidemic levels of disease that affects most all of us is in itself unnatural and many feel that these out of control rates are directly related to common insecticides, herbicides, algaecides and a plethora of other carcinogenic agents commonly found in items ranging from sweeteners to talcum powder.Sonic treatments have been proven to be useless and water aeration and churning are a weak tactic if not accompanied by bacterial additive.

Read up on all approaches before making a decision as to how your treatment plan will begin, and most importantly, how it will end. Chemical treatments are a “one shot” approach that leads to perpetual treatments along with severe exposure to the potentially toxic ingredients within.

Algae Control with Ultrasonic Technology

Fri, 28 Jul 2007 04:14:06 GMT

posted by brucew

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) July 30, 2007 -- http://www.WeedersDigest.com Breakthrough ultrasonic technology has been introduced to control algae in ponds without expensive chemical treatments or time consuming manual labor. This amazing device has no negative impact on fish, plants, or other aquatic life and it replaces the need for chemical algaecides typically used in pools, reservoirs, fish and farm ponds, lakes, lagoons, water tanks and other water management applications. Golf course superintendents, pond management professionals and commercial retention pond managers are excited that it is now possible to control unsightly algae without the use of chemical methods that may be harmful to the environment.

This new technology uses a precise frequency of ultrasonic waves to disrupt and destroy the algae cell structure.

Using just 20-45 watts of power, SonicSolutions floats just below the surface, fighting pool and pond algae, water treatment algae, farm pond algae, fish pond algae, and even algae in irrigation ponds and pools. The device works 24 hours a day, is environmentally safe, and requires little maintenance, with no need to measure and apply toxic chemicals.

The Sonic Solutions algae control device emits ultrasonic waves that "fan out" at approximately 120° - 150° from the front of the transducer (see figure 1). The SS 500 has a range of up to 300 ft. covering a total area of up to 3 acres, while the SS 400 has a range of up to 150 ft. and covers a total area of up to 1.5 acres. Range and coverage area are dependent on the local conditions, including the distance to the site from the equator and nutrient loading. Units can be used in combination to provide complete coverage of large installations.

For those that may be sceptical of such forward technology, Kirk Whatley, National Sales Manager, stated that "The ultrasonic algae control device can be rented for a minimum of 3 months. At the end of the rental period, the results will be obvious and at that point, the pond manager can decide whether or not it met their expectation. If it has, a purchase can be made and 100% of the rental fee is applied directly to the purchase." Whatley indicated that 85% of all rentals turn into a direct purchase.

In a recent interview, Bruce Wahlstrom, founder of The Weeders Digest - The Lake and Pond Help Desk, indicated that "this breakthrough technology has the ability to transform water management in controlled waters possibly more than any other innovation in the history of pond care."

Made in the USA but distributed internationally. This u;tra sonic algae control device is the only one of its kind that has been UL approved and also given a stamp of approval for use in drinking water.

There are currently nearly 600 successful installations in locations from waste water treatment plants to a 27-acre lake in the state of Washington.

Similar products have attempted to enter the US marketplace however, they have not been able to duplicate the effectiveness or efficiency of the low electric voltage in the water which is an important safety and cost factor that must be considered.

An educational website about algae is available at http://www.AlgaeBusters.com This site algae A to Z including chemical and aeration strategys.

To rent or purchase ultrasonic control device, contact The Weeders Digest at 763-551-1441 or visit them on line at http://www.WeedersDigest.com

There are several sizes of Sonic Solutions algae control units available based on the surface area of the pond. Larger lakes and ponds require multiple units for effective coverage.

A quick mathematical exercise to determine the material and labor costs associated with traditional methods of water management clearly demonstrates the return on investment of this new method.

As a national distributor of the Sonic Solutions device, The Weeders Digest (http://www.WeedersDigest.com) offers a 3 month "Try Before You Buy" program which allows a potential buyer to see the results for themselves before purchasing.

###

Just another innovation from.... "The Lake Weed Help Desk"

Tue, 25 Jul 2007 14:06:21 GMT

posted by brucew

Minneapolis, MN (PRWeb) January 17, 2007 -- http://www.WeedersDigest.com [The Weeders Digest Help Desk] has added another innovative tool to benefit lakeshore owners called the WeedRoller which uses a sweeping arm to remove aquatic vegetation and weeds, muck and silt in front of a dock or pier to clear a swimming area or beach.

The WeedRoller uses a breakthrough pivot design that slowly rolls along the lake bottom, while detaching weeds from the soil and agitating the lake bed. The aquatic weeds can then be quickly and easily gathered with a lake rake and disposed of. Once the initial clean up is complete, it requires only occasional use to keep it weed free. The result is a cleaner, firm, natural lake bottom, ideal for swimming and water activities. The WeedRoller easily mounts to a dock in minutes, is environmentally safe, and requires about the same power it takes to operate a household light bulb.

For many, the WeedRoller offers a more environmentally friendly solution than damaging herbicides and chemicals which are also costly and oftentimes ineffective if improperly applied. Herbicides typically require a permit, but lakeshore owners often take the chemical application process into their own hands rather than complying with state and local regulations. Applying herbicides requires more knowledge than most homeowners posses. Irresponsible use could negatively impact the environment. This process should be left to a professional applicator rather than the homeowner.

A permit may also be required for operation of the Weed Roller depending upon the state where it is installed. Contact your state for specific regulations. Permit information can also be obtained at www.WeedersDigest.com .

In addition to the WeedRoller, The Weeders Digest continues to offer a wealth of tools, tips and education for lakeshore management. Other shoreline solutions include lake rakes and water weed cutters such as the Beach Buddy, Beach Groomer, WeedRazer, Aqua-Tiller, Lake Mower, Aquatic Vegetation Groomer, Arrow Tooth, Lake Bottom Blanket, AWE, Aqua Blaster, Scott Aerator, Kasco Fountains and Midwest Rakes.

The Weeders Digest's addition of the WeedRoller will be supported by information found at Weeders Digest.com and through the phone support when calling The Help Desk at 763-551-1441.

WeedRazer WeedRazor Looks for Distributors

Sun, 30 Jul 2007 11:05:57 GMT

posted by brucew
Minnetonka, MN (PRWeb) January 23, 2008 -- There has always been a debate about how to manage the aquatic weeds in a lake or pond: applying chemical herbicides or harvesting. Chemical applications of Hydrothol or Aquathol are oftentimes frowned upon due to the unknown long term effects. Harvesting, when accomplished through cutting or tearing out weeds, can cause stray plant fragments that replant themselves elsewhere in the body of water.

From a purely environmental point of view it would be more beneficial to abstain from any form of lake weed cutting or chemical treatment. On the other hand, waterfront owners will oftentimes take matters into their own hands in order to enjoy their shoreline investment regardless of the environmental impact. That is the conflict that many lake and pond communities, lake associations and homeowner associations constantly face.

If weed abatement is to be conducted in designated areas for recreational or aesthetic reasons, cutting would be considered the lesser of the two evils. Removing the plant close to the bottom would be the preferred method, followed up with thorough raking and skimming of all fragments.

A redesign of a unique tool for aquatic plant management has been introduced for 2007 as "The WeedRazer" (http://www.WeedersDigest.com). The WeedRazer was originally deigned for the benefit of professional water managers but has been made available for individual lakeshore and pond owners and is now distributed through qualified marine and aquatic dealers.

The WeedRazer's unique 48" wide V shaped cutting blades allow the operator to easily cut a 25' long, 4' wide swath with each pass. The WeedRazer is light enough to toss from the shore, dock or pier, yet heavy enough to sink to the bottom regardless of the depth. The razor-like blades literally skim the bottom cutting all weeds at the base as the tool is retrieved with the attached 25' leash.

The WeedRazer is distributed by qualified aquatic and marine related retailers and is aggressively seeking additional distributors nationally and internationally. Contact them at WeedRazers@gmail.com or by visiting http://www.WeedersDigest.com for more information about becoming a dealer or distributor or call 763-551-1441 - you will be glad that you did!

According to the website, customer satisfaction is guaranteed with the WeedRazer: "If the WeedRazer is not the best tool you have ever used for cutting lake or pond weeds, return it for a complete refund." Now that is confidence!